No. 30 Squadron RAAF
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No. 30 Squadron was Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron for most of its operational history. The Squadron saw action in the Second World War and later served in the target towing and surface-to-air missile roles.
[edit] History
No. 30 Squadron was established at RAAF Base Richmond on 9 March 1942 as a long range fighter squadron operating the Bristol Beaufighter. After a brief period of training the Squadron deployed to Townsville where it escorted anti-shipping patrols. The Squadron was deployed to New Guinea in September where it operated as a ground attack squadron supporting the Allied efforts in Papua, a role in which the Beaufighter aircraft proved highly successful.
No. 30 Squadron's primary mission during the war was attacking Japanese shipping and coastal bases and in early 1943 the Squadron took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. As part of the Australian First Tactical Air Force No. 30 Squadron moved to Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies in March 1945 and supported the Australian operations in Borneo. The squadron deployed to Tarakan in May 1945 and flew operations from that island in support of the Australian landing at Balikpapan. The Squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 on board the HMS Glory and was disbanded on 15 August 1946.
No. 30 Squadron was re-formed RAAF Base Richmond as No. 30 (Target Towing) Squadron on 8 March 1948. In this role Squadron supported Army, Air Force and Navy training exercises and research conducted by the CSIRO. The Squadron was again disbanded on 21 March 1956.
On 11 January 1961 No. 30 Squadron was re-formed at RAAF Base Williamtown as a Surface to Air Guided Weapons Squadron equipped with Bloodhound missiles. In this role the Squadron provided air defence to the Sydney region and, from June 1965, to Darwin. The Squadron was disbanded for the final time on 30 November 1965. To date, No. 30 Squadron is the only RAAF unit to have operated surface-to-air missiles (ground based air defence is currently provided by the the Army unit 16th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery).
[edit] Aircraft operated
- Bristol Beaufighter (1942-1946, 1948?-1956?)
- Bristol Beaufort (1948?-1956?)
- Douglas C-47 (1948?-1956?)
- CAC Wirraway (1948?-1956?)
- Avro Anson (1948?-1956?)
- CAC Mustang (1948?-1956?)
- Bloodhound SAM (1961-1968)
[edit] References
- RAAF Historical Section (1995), Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
- RAAF Museum 30 Squadron
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